Anyone familiar with Left leaning Anarchist theory?

(Posted on 1/3/13 at 8:42 am)

I've done some lite reading. I just don't know how accurate it is. From what I can gather they view the state as evil, but they also view free enterprise and private property as evil. It seems to me very close, if not identical, to communism, which is suppose to be a stateless, classless society.

It perplexes me though, because it seems to be holding two contradictory beliefs of freedom from the state and yet servitude to society.

mograyback, you can take this one off. You've done enough already. It's not your responsibility to teach us all.

Familiar, no. But it is silly to me because in the absence of any state, class and free enterprise will form. So then they'd need that state to come in and break down those evils like free enterprise. But then you'd have a powerful state again so where are they now?

re: Anyone familiar with Left leaning Anarchist theory? (Posted on 1/3/13 at 9:55 am to buddhavista)

quote:The right thinks people are rational decision makers

I believe the argument typically states that people tend to act in their own "rational self interest" not that they are "rational decision makers." Minor quibble, but I thought the point needed to be made.

re: Anyone familiar with Left leaning Anarchist theory? (Posted on 1/3/13 at 9:56 am to WikiTiger)

quote:I believe the argument typically states that people tend to act in their own "rational self interest" not that they are "rational decision makers." Minor quibble, but I thought the point needed to be made.

fair point, but if you are going to act in your rational self interest, you have to be a rational decision maker.

This is why this system breaks down beyond families and small groups. As the group grows and becomes diverse it has more thought inputs on how to do things. We are all different and different people want different things. Clashes occur and one-size fits all rules begin to emerge. Some resent the rules, tension ensues.

I just don't think we are built to run any voluntary collectivist program outside of small groups.

re: Anyone familiar with Left leaning Anarchist theory? (Posted on 1/3/13 at 10:08 am to buddhavista)

quote: for the common good

This is one of those asinine phrases like "forget politics and worry about the good of the country".

These are pleasant sounding enough except the person uttering them always seems to think THEIR view is what the "common good" or "good of the country" is and are completely perplexed that everyone else doesn't see it the same way.

re: Anyone familiar with Left leaning Anarchist theory? (Posted on 1/3/13 at 10:21 am to DonChowder)

quote:Familiar, no. But it is silly to me because in the absence of any state, class and free enterprise will form. So then they'd need that state to come in and break down those evils like free enterprise. But then you'd have a powerful state again so where are they now?